About Laurinburg North Carolina

The lifestyle associated with Laurinburg may be laid back and relaxing, but it is never boring with outdoor recreation activities throughout the year, community services and the close-proximity to mountains, beaches, professional and college sports and big-city attractions.

The History Of Laurinburg North Carolina

Laurinburg was first incorporated in the year 1877, but it is believed that the area dates back as far as 1785, when the first settlers called this site their home. The name for this town was first written as “Laurinburgh”, with some people pronouncing the name “Laur-in-boro.”

The first post office in the town also adopted the name “Laurinburgh”, but at a later stage the “h” was dropped from the name. The name “Laurin” was derived from the prominent family known as the “McLaurin’s”. By the year 1840, the town only featured a couple of shacks, a saloon, a store, and 3 dwellings. In the year 1852, a private school in the area was established which was followed by the rapid growth of this town. Mr. Washington Gill was named as mayor for the new town, and this home was preserved and later restored. This home was also the residence for Edwin Gill, the long-tome Treasurer of North Carolina.

The Main Street in Laurinburg is recognized as a historical point of interest. However, it is difficult to view Main Street now, and try to visualize what it was like when described by the residents who lived here in the late part of the 1880’s and the early part of the 1890’s. During this time there were around 15 general stores with around 13 of these stores that were in the business of selling whiskey. A few of the ladies who lived in the town were hesitant to travel into downtown on their own due to the boisterous behaviors of the men along this street.

The stores that were operated on the Main Street were owned by the more prominent citizens of this town. For example, Mr. John. F. McNair first started his business at Laurel Hill and Springfield and later moved the business to the Main Street in Laurinburg in 1872. This prominent businessman offered far-reaching interests in banking, textiles, land along with other enterprises. Walter Evans, a black man happened to be another important merchant on Main Street. He opened the first clothing store in this street that specialized in high-quality shoes. Other prominent businesses included the Everett Brothers and Gill Store and the Everington’s Drug Store.